DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Scheduled to descend upon D-M in spectacular fashion, the Air Force Academy's parachute team, Wings of Blue, will perform at the 2012 D-M "Thunder and Lightning over Arizona" open house April 14 and 15.

The "Wings of Blue" has been called one of the most outstanding parachute units in the country for the past two decades. Since 1967, cadets have dominated national intercollegiate parachuting championships, typically winning decisively over the other 40 schools. The team has won 21 of the last 27 national championships. Additionally, they perform about 50 demonstrations each year including the Copper Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and Pro Bowl. The team travels locally, nationally, and now internationally to perform in these varied air shows.

Before a cadet can do any jumps, they go through ground school for more than 33 hours where they learn proper parachuting procedures.

"My sophomore year I made the Wings of Green, which is the predecessor to the Wings of Blue," said Cadet 1st Class Benjamin Arneberg, Air Force Academy demonstration team jumper. "During that time we work on our flying skills and get ready for demonstrations. In junior and senior year, I have been performing demonstrations across the country."

The team is eager to come to D-M and perform said Arneberg. He describes Arizona as having perfect conditions for parachuting. In fact, weeks before the team came to the open house, they were at Luke AFB near Phoenix, Ariz. training for the event.

"We're very excited to come to Arizona and participate in the open house," Arneberg said. "I think about a sixth of my jumps have been in Arizona. Coming here to jump is awesome because weather conditions are perfect."

Besides getting to jump with the AFA parachute team, Arneberg enjoys being a visible representative of the Air Force for the on-looking crowd.

"I really like the opportunity to represent not only the Air Force Academy, but also the Air Force as a whole," Arneberg said. "We like to consider ourselves the Air Force parachute team. It's awesome to go to football games or air shows and wearing the flag of our country, perform and be a positive ambassador for the Air Force."